Domain-wall dynamics in Bose-Einstein condensates with synthetic gauge fields

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Condensed matter physics
• High-energy physics

Background:

• Many-body systems exhibit emergent exotic particles from matter-gauge field interactions.
• Quantum simulations using ultracold atoms provide a platform for studying these complex interactions via artificial gauge fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the deterministic formation of domain walls in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with a dynamically generated, density-dependent artificial gauge field.
• To advance the simulation of exotic emergent particles and their interactions in quantum systems.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous modulation of an optical lattice potential and interatomic interactions to create a density-dependent gauge field in a stable BEC.
• Formation of domain walls within the BEC, separating atomic domains condensed into different momenta.

Main Results:

• Successfully created a stable BEC with a dynamically formed, density-dependent gauge field.
• Observed domain walls as elementary excitations that exhibit a synthetic electric field response with a unique charge-to-mass ratio, distinct from bare atoms.
• Demonstrated the potential for simulating novel excitations in quantum systems with dynamical gauge fields.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a significant advancement in creating controllable artificial gauge fields in quantum systems.
• The findings open new avenues for simulating and understanding exotic particles and emergent phenomena in condensed matter and high-energy physics.
• This work paves the way for exploring previously undescribed excitations and their dynamics in quantum simulations.